Criteria for Adjudication 

Higher order concerns

• The paper’s central thesis, focus, hypothesis, or observation is perceptive, incisive, and richly developed.
• Research is employed in developing the key argument and is compared and contrasted (as appropriate).
• A deep, nuanced understanding of the subject matter is evident throughout the paper.
• The writing style engages the reader.
• The paper reflects the principles of inclusive and antiracist writing.
• For papers that are written by or about Indigenous Peoples, or about Indigenous topics, the writing reflects the principles outlined in Dr. Gregory Younging's book Elements of Indigenous Style.
• The paper is well organized.

Lower order concerns

• Skillful transitions between paragraphs and arguments
• Vocabulary is well-chosen and there is variety in sentence structures.
• Few, if any, errors in citation.
• Papers show evidence of thoughtful revision/editing.
• Judges must give equitable consideration to all writers. The contest welcomes papers written "with an accent" and papers that challenge the traditional hegemonic norms of academic writing. 
• With this criteria, the SLC reaffirms the CCCC's statement on Students' Right to their own Language. 

The excellence of all papers should be judged consistently, using the criteria above; however, the Writing Contest committee acknowledges that excellence in writing is not culturally or disciplinarily neutral. Everyone involved with the writing contest will work toward greater awareness of our unconscious biases about what makes for “good” writing as we engage with student submissions. 

Judging Panels 2024 

First Year Category Judges 

Dr. Lyana Patrick – Faculty of Health Sciences 

Janis McKenzie – User Experience Librarian 

Joel Akinwumi – Department of World Languages and Literatures and Department of French 

 

Middle Years Category Judges 

Dr. Michelle Nilson – Faculty of Education 

Dr. Mark Lechner – Faculty of Health Sciences

Dr. Anushay Malik – Department of History, School for International Studies, Global Asia Program 

 

Fourth Year+ Category Judges 

Dr. Cary Campbell – Faculty of Education 

Dr. Eugene McCann – Department of Geography and Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Dr. Sara Florence Davidson – Faculty of Education 

 

Plurilingual Prize Category Judges 

Dr. Zuzana Vasko – Faculty of Education 

Dr. Dara Culhane – Professor Emeritus, Department of Sociology and Anthropology

Dr. Cynthia Xie – Department of World Languages and Literatures